How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe for Baby

Buying clothes for your baby can feel like a never-ending battle. You want enough clothes so you’re not constantly doing (even more) laundry. Yet, you know your little one will grow out of those outfits in mere months. You want to be smart with your baby clothes budget, but your heart melts when you see those tiny outfits in the store. 

For many parents, a capsule wardrobe can provide a much-needed plan for clothing your newborn. Below, we map out exactly what a capsule wardrobe for a baby is, what to consider before you go shopping, and what clothing combinations work best. 

What Is a Capsule Wardrobe?

A capsule wardrobe is made up of versatile pieces of clothing that can be mixed and matched with the rest of the closet. This reduces the number of items that can only be worn with one or two other items. 

For example, your child may have a bright orange shirt with rainbow polka dots all over it. While this shirt is fun, pairing it with neon green leggings with frogs on them could be an overwhelming outfit. 

With that said, if you want to combine patterns and bright colors for your kiddo, go for it! We’re all for following your creative heart here at Hadley’s Bungalow. But if you want a subtler look for your baby, a capsule wardrobe simplifies the getting-dressed process. 

What Factors to Consider

The goal of a capsule wardrobe is that you can grab any two pieces of clothing off the pile and they’ll go together. Achieving this requires a little planning before you go shopping. 

You could go with the “color palette” strategy, where you only buy baby clothes within a specific section of the color wheel. Maybe you choose cool colors that complement each other, or you stick to just blues and greens to keep it simple. 

You could also follow the “neutrals” option, where you buy softer or neutral colors that can go with any kind of clothing—neutral or otherwise. Then, you can purchase a smaller number of “accent” pieces, which are more colorful or have strong patterns, and keep those in their own designated drawer. If you’re feeling a colorful day for your baby’s outfit, you simply grab a shirt or leggings from the accent drawer and then another item from their main wardrobe. Again, these two pieces of clothing should go together seamlessly.

Whatever approach you follow, try to choose soft fabrics made from cotton and bamboo that are gentle for your baby’s sensitive skin. 

What Clothes Should Be in My Baby’s Capsule Wardrobe?

Before building up your capsule wardrobe, do a quick inventory of the clothes you already have for your baby. Now consider how often you do laundry. In reality, many new parents are doing a load of laundry every two days, if not every day. Often, it comes down to how messy your infant was on that particular morning. 

If you’re doing laundry nearly every day, you need fewer clothes for your baby. In total, 20 to 30 pieces of interchangeable base clothing will be more than enough.

Below, we’ve listed out how to break this down by type of clothing:

• 4–5 short-sleeve bodysuits

• 4–5 long-sleeve bodysuits

• 6–8 pairs of leggings/pants/shorts (depending on the season)

• 1–2 T-shirts

• 5 pajamas

• 2–3 warmer layers like sweaters or jackets

Then there are the other essentials, like socks, shoes, hats, and coats:

• 8–10 pairs of socks

• 1–2 pairs of shoes 

• 1 bucket hat or other sun-protection headwear

• 1 winter hat

• 1–2 warm coats

Once you have the foundation of your baby’s capsule wardrobe, you’re all set. Now, you can add in any of the pieces that aren’t meant to be matched with anything, such as: 

• Dresses or rompers

• Outfit sets

• Swimwear 

• Cotton baby blankets

Seasonal Considerations

A baby’s wardrobe can look quite different in July versus January. Some parents find success in having two separate capsule wardrobes: “warm weather” and “cold weather” versions. As soon as the weather changes, you simply pack up the current clothes and pull out the wardrobe for this new season. 

Build Your Baby’s Capsule Wardrobe with Hadley’s Bungalow

Looking for high-quality sleepers and onesies to complete your child’s capsule wardrobe? At Hadley’s Bungalow, we offer one-pieces for every season of the year. Made from buttery soft Pima cotton, our baby’s clothes help regulate your baby’s body temperature so they’re always comfortable and cozy. Check out our entire line of durable and comfy onesies for kids.